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Clarkstown Planning Board Requires Additional Material For O&R Substation Proposal

Board votes in favor of Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

 

After the third session of a public hearing on Orange & Rockland’s (O&R) , the Clarkstown Planning Board voted unanimously to request a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Robert Geneslaw, planning consultant for the town, said the supplemental EIS would deal with newly identified issues that had been raised by members of the community. 

O&R’s attorneys and engineers said they felt the questions raised by the public had been addressed and asked that they be allowed to prepare a Final EIS instead.  Attorney Anthony Montalbano said they had spoken with United Water and the New City fire officials. The board’s experts and members opposed that request.

“There’s an enormous amount of new material both verbal and printed that’s been provided,” said Geneslaw, adding that public health issues and emergency services were not adequately addressed in the DEIS.

Planning Board Chair Shirley Thormann said, “I haven’t heard anywhere if there is an accident how the medical personnel could get in.”

Planning Board Member Mary Jane O’Connor noted, “ I would like a medical opinion. We do not have a medical expert on this board.”

Geneslaw provided three options for the board. In addition to the supplemental EIS they voted for, they had the options of a new DEIS that would incorporate the new information or a final DEIS.

Dozens of New City residents from South Mountain Road, Roberts Road and Lake Lucille attended the public hearing. They shared their concerns about potential fires, electromagnetic forces (EMF) emissions, decreased property values and provided a report from experts on the EMF levels being emitted by the currently substation and the proposed expanded facility. Several noted the limited number of nearby fire hydrants. 

“We are looking at seeing if we can get a hydrant closer to the facility,” said John Coffey, chief engineer for O&R.

Terri Thal read a statement prepared by Marvin Baum, which raised the question of whether the substation would be responsible for providing the power for the proposed United Water Hudson River desalination plant in Haverstraw.

Martin Fiel, a resident of New City for 40 years asked, “Point blank is this a hazard to the residents?”

Morton Leifer, electronic communication specialist for the town, said he measured the milligauss levels. He started under the distribution lines where the reading was the highest and the amount decreased as he moved away but increased again as he got closer to homes which use electrical appliances.

Rockland County Legislator Ed Day, who represents New City, spoke about his concerns after the public hearing. 

"Beyond the obvious issue of whether or not the proposed location is either appropriate or necessary as part of a residential community, is the compelling public safety matter of whether or not the community can be protected should a critical event occur, and whether our first responders will even have the tools needed to do so,” said Day. “Lacking further detail, and as a former law enforcement commander, I have tremendous concerns for the safety of my community should the substation be expanded." 

The public hearing was closed however the record is open for 10 days to allow the public to submit additional comments. O&R is expected to submit its draft scoping document within the next week so it can be discussed at the board’s June 27 meeting.  Geneslaw explained the scoping document as an enhanced table of contents. 

O&R wants to construct a new electrical substation and upgrade an existing gas regulator on 10.2 acres at the corner of North Little Tor Road and South Mountain Road in New City.  The site currently houses an electrical substation and a temporary mobile power source to provide service for customers affected by the reconstruction of New Hempstead Road.

 

 

 

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The Real Mary Smith June 14, 2012 at 10:32 am
Again, can someone explain to me why Mary Jane O'Connor is on the Planning Board? What qualifications does she have? Was this a political thank you from the town?
Mike Hirsch June 14, 2012 at 12:43 pm
In Clarkstown everything is political. Mary Jane has been a strong advocate for the seniors for many years. The seniors vote. Of course it's a political thank you. The planning board has been doing an excellent job in my opinion.
George C June 14, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Mike, so you consider allowing seniors to take in boarders an excellent job? When are they going to offer you a job?
Mike Hirsch June 14, 2012 at 01:55 pm
Speaking only for myself, I think having our young volunteer firefighters sharing the homes of our seniors is a great idea. It helps our volunteers and helps our seniors. The alternative could be higher taxes and more seniors being forced out because of the tax burden. I don't think you have to worry about Alex offering me a job, but I would take either the Chief of Staff or Clerk of the Works position (both patronage appointments paying over 160k/yr) if they reduced the salary by 75% and made them part time positions.
The Real Mary Smith June 15, 2012 at 01:51 am
Mike,
I beg to differ. She became an advocate for the seniors when the bond was proposed for the school district. She has not been an advocate for seniors for years as you state! Mary Jane does what is best for Mary Jane!
Mike Hirsch June 15, 2012 at 02:34 am
It sounds like you know and have more history with her than I do. I've only been involved with our town's political shenanigans for the past three years. Before that I was blissfully uninformed.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jimmy R June 14, 2013 at 05:10 pm
The first thing little Frankie wanted to know was that since he was mayor of Suffern for the day,Read More could he get his bicycle fixed at the village Department of Public Works.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:33 am
He also wanted to know the most effective method of spying on the other kids so he could get electedRead More Class President.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Why not cut out the middle man and just send the money directly to the religious schools.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:27 am
If they reported all their income........if every other home was not owned by a "RABBI"Read More and tax free.....if they returned all the books and learning materials they "borrowed" .......ETC ETC.....Get real Weeder.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:42 pm
It will never happen.
M. Leybra June 16, 2013 at 07:25 pm
Shouldn't be happening in the first place & "requiring" another law to stop rippingRead More off Joe Blow taxpayer for county government elite, disgusting.
Champs pose for a picture (photo by Craig Fetterman)
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 11:03 am
Congratulations to the Cubs!
Scott F. June 12, 2013 at 11:35 am
The boys were awesome last night and all season long, a well deserved Championship for a great groupRead More of boys
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 13, 2013 at 11:20 am
Fantastic! Just posted the photo on New City Facebook too!
Aerial of United Water's proposed water treatment plant
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:23 pm
Mr. Pointing says that an issues conference is unusual. The unusual step is called for because thisRead More project is highly unusual; it is unprecedented. This French-owned water company wants to implement its pet technology at our expense - it makes sense for the company because the project makes lots of money. There is information available that calls into question the "definitive" studies carried out by the water company. Of course they found that their technology was the best option - what a surprise! They have not made the case that they carried out a disinterested examination of the issues in the public interest. Yes there are still issues. Also, stop threatening us with increased costs from delay. First, it does not make sense and second, you are trying to bully us into accepting your proposal. That is one more sign that something is wrong in your proposal.
John Taggart June 13, 2013 at 08:08 am
An issues conference will be a wast of time and money. So many ' issues ' have been pulled out ofRead More thin air. The people who organized against the plant will just keep saying the same thing. No amount of info will be enough, no answer will be accepted. The issues conference will be a circus of endless questions, ideas, and demands. Haverstraw bay reclassified as drinking water will better protect it, provide an endless supply of water and finally help end the stereotype of the Hudson being polluted Recommend
mike sullivan June 11, 2013 at 08:14 pm
get a life
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:12 pm
There were no open meetings. I attended the April meeting and Mr. Lettre was directed by the TownRead More Board to return with more precise estimates and to include options for other upgrades. I have attended every meeting of the Town Board since that time and Mr. Lettre never returned in an open meeting. Mr. Borelli indicated that Mr. Lettre had addressed his concerns directly and privately. According to the Open Meetings Law, the deliberations of the Town Board are to be open and visible to the public. Private individual meetings or communications with members of the Town Board so as to avoid open deliberations flouts the intent of the Open Meetings Law. Mr. Gromack's statement of other meetings is inaccurate and, since it was specifically in response to a question about open meetings, dishonest. Mr. Borelli, shame on you for accepting a private communication and not standing by your guidance to Mr. Lettre that he was to come back to an open meeting of the Town Board.
Watchdog June 17, 2013 at 04:27 pm
Borelli and Ho -Man are in the bag for Lettre. They are not Republicans...just political hacks forRead More Lettre. RINOS.
galledeb June 10, 2013 at 10:45 am
How can I get more information? When and where are auditions?
Maddie June 10, 2013 at 04:25 pm
You can contact Pastor Robin at rdemaggio@ramapocentral.org
Tracy Urvater June 13, 2013 at 09:25 am
What are the dates of this camp?
Cicadas emerging from their 17 year slumber.
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 9, 2013 at 09:32 pm
Thanks for sharing, Grace! Your thoughts on their noise?
Grace Anthony Zemsky June 10, 2013 at 09:00 am
The traffic from the nearby Palisades Parkway is more of a noise nuisance than the cicada chorus.Read More (We have triple-paned windows because of it.) There is something almost musical about the hum of the cicadas. Of course, it may bother me more if I lived in the "affected area" and heard it constantly. Upon entering this nearby neighborhood, the sound crescendos. And yet, it can't be heard a couple of streets away. The drone of locusts is more bothersome than these 17 year cicadas.
Coleen Crowe June 10, 2013 at 01:30 pm
There are swarms of them at my house in upper nyack. Take a ride down Broadway in Upper Nyack nearRead More Nyack beach and they are super loud.
Linda June 8, 2013 at 10:39 am
I missed this! Is there still a way to get a signed copy? Maybe he will do another signing?
John Murphy June 11, 2013 at 08:20 am
This is the most accurate word picture of one of the tragic corollary side effects of one ofRead More humanities ' gruesome failings , which is war. Thank you Pam Sitomer for putting your writing genius to work for a noble cause.